Commissioners OK $95,000 contract with firm for Lorain County strategic plan

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a $95,000 contract to Future iQ, a research and consulting company based in Minneapolis, to help the county facilitate and develop a strategic plan. The company will help the county develop a four-phase plan to deliver a five-year strategic plan for the county in time for its bicentennial celebration next year, Commissioner Jeff Riddell said. "We'll be from where we've been to where we want to go" once the strategic plan is finalized, Riddell said. The goal is to set short- and long-term objectives for the county, including in land use and economic development. The document may change over time as goals are reached or new goals are identified, county officials have said. Commissioner Michelle Hung said she was pleased with the preparation for the project and with Future iQ's experience in working with cities, counties and states. County special projects coordinator/manager Dave Greenspan, whom commissioners hired in July for just under $110,000 in annual salary, said five proposals were received. Future iQ; BerryDunn of Portland, Maine; The Community Foundation of Lorain County in Elyria; SBrand of Cape Coral, Florida; and The Research Associates, of New York, New York, each submitted proposals. Three were chosen for in-person interviews by a review committee made up of Greenspan, Deputy County Administrator Karen Perkins and Lorain County Community College Vice President for Strategic and Institutional Development Tracy Green with ex-officio input from Riddell and County Administrator Jeff Armbruster. Greenspan said Community Foundation of Lorain County input was so valued that they were asked to continue to assist the process. Founded in 2003 and coming highly recommended from past clients, Future iQ does research and consulting around the world. It has worked with Allen County and the city of Trotwood, Ohio, on past projects, Greenspan said. The company specializes in regional planning, city and urban planning, organizational and corporate planning, tourism destination development, economic and workforce development, defense sector engagement and industry planning and analysis, he told the board. The four phases of developing the strategic plan will include: education, information, assessment and benchmarking through research, communication and monthly meetings with county staff; internal and external engagement through surveys, interviews, listening sessions, workshops and reports; the construction of a strategic vision and plan, again with surveys, meetings, focus groups and draft plans; and alignment and action, with the board receiving the proposed strategic plan for approval, implementation and preparation for a kick-off event sometime around April 1, 2024. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.